Emi Akezawa came from a lower-middle-class background, with implications she worked as a prostitute before marrying wealthy business owner Eiichi Akezawa, head of a prominent organization. Her life changed at a party hosted by Eiichi, where she witnessed a private fight between a boxer and a martial artist. There, she first saw Yuujirou Hanma and became instantly fixated, unable to look away despite Eiichi's visible jealousy. After Eiichi slapped her for staring and later spilled champagne on Yuujirou, Yuujirou retaliated by kissing Emi publicly. When Eiichi confronted her at home about her obsession, Yuujirou appeared, snapped Eiichi's neck, and revealed he recognized Emi's sadistic nature and enjoyment of brutal violence. Emi lied to police about Yuujirou's involvement in the murder and inherited leadership of the Akezawa Group. Emi later became pregnant with Yuujirou's child, Baki Hanma, initially claiming Eiichi was the father to secure her position. Her obsession with Yuujirou defined her motivations, leading her to fund Baki's rigorous training from a young age solely to impress Yuujirou. She hired top trainers and monitored Baki's progress closely, viewing him as a tool for Yuujirou's approval rather than out of maternal care. For example, after Baki lost to 100 street thugs at age 13, she arranged a fight with yakuza leader Kaoru Hanayama to push his development. When Baki later abandoned her trainers for his own path, she superficially supported him, noting his growing resemblance to Yuujirou. Despite occasional gestures like kissing Baki for luck, her interactions remained transactional and detached. As Baki grew stronger, Emi's fixation on Yuujirou intensified. She reacted with amusement when Yuujirou assaulted Japan's Prime Minister, interpreting it as a response to Baki defeating the soldier Gaia. Before Baki's fight against Yuujirou, Yuujirou dismissed Emi, stating she would mean nothing if Baki proved insufficiently strong. This rejection triggered a public breakdown; Emi lashed out at Baki, blaming him for her inadequacy in Yuujirou's eyes. She punched Baki, declaring, "Because you're weak! It's because you're so weak! It's your fault! Why did I have such a weak child?!" When Baki hugged her and begged for love, she bit him and fled. Emi attended Baki's climactic fight against Yuujirou, initially siding with Yuujirou and urging Baki to entertain him. However, as Yuujirou brutally overwhelmed Baki, Emi saw her son's severe injuries and experienced a profound shift. Flashbacks of nursing infant Baki surfaced, triggering dormant maternal instincts. She intervened to protect Baki, attacking Yuujirou despite the futility. Her assault broke both wrists punching him, and she defied him by spitting in his face. Yuujirou killed her with a bear hug. In her final moments, Emi expressed remorse for her years of cruelty and neglect toward Baki, acknowledging her mistreatment before dying.